들어오세요
The English phrase "please come in" translates to Korean as 들어오세요.
The component 오세요 (please come) is often used by shopkeepers or restaurant staff to welcome customers.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 들어오세요 is a combination of 들어오다 (to enter/come in) and the polite imperative ending –세요 (please do).
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, which uses "come in" for both casual and formal situations, Korean requires different verb endings depending on the social hierarchy between speakers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal/casual version of the phrase is 들어와. The highly formal version of the phrase is 들어오십시오.
Did you know?
- Because Korean culture is highly sensitive to social hierarchy, saying 들어오세요 to someone of significantly higher status than you could actually be seen as subtly impolite for 'commanding' them to move.
- In Korea, guests often remove their shoes before following the command 들어오세요. If a host says 'come in' but does not mention shoes, the guest will typically look at the floor to see if footwear is permitted.
- In a business setting, the highly formal 들어오십시오 is often used in recorded voice announcements for elevators or automated building entries.
Examples in context
- 들어오세요!Please come in!This example shows how to use 들어오세요.Tatoeba #13174727 by atitarev, translation #4771536 by garborg
- 들어오세요Please come in
- 안으로 들어오세요.aneuro deureo-oseyo.Please come inside.
Example conversation
Minjun is waiting for Jieun at his office door.
- 민준 Min-jun지은 씨, 어서 들어오세요.Jieun-ssi, eoseo deureo-oseyo.Jieun, please come in.
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 들어갈게요.ne, deureogalgeyo.Okay, I'll come in.
- 민준 Min-jun밖이 많이 춥죠?bakki mani chupjyo?It's very cold outside, isn't it?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 정말 춥네요.ne, jeongmal chupneyo.Yes, it really is cold.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
